Blackpool 2 Sunderland 3: Story of the day as Aiden O'Brien hat-trick sees Lee Johnson's side progress in dramatic Carabao Cup tie
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The Black Cats forward netted the winning goal in stoppage time after Blackpool substitute Josh Bowler had equalised two minutes from the end.
Sunderland boss Lee Johnson made seven changes to his starting XI following Saturday’s 1-0 win over AFC Wimbledon, with new signings Frederik Alves and Niall Huggins making their debuts.
Here’s how it played out.
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RECAP: Blackpool 2 (Lavery, 9) (Bowler, 88) Sunderland 3 (O’Brien, 12, 57, 90)
Key Events
- Sunderland XI: Patterson, Huggins, Alves (Doyle, 76), Wright, Cirkin, Winchester, Neil, Diamond, Pritchard (Embleton, 74), O’Brien, Broadhead (Stewart, 74)
- Subs: Bond, Doyle, Taylor, Hawkes, Gooch, Embleton, Stewart
- Blackpool XI: Grimshaw, James, Carey, Casey, Keogh, Hamilton (Anderson, 78), Garbutt, Gretarsson, Antwi (Bowler, 69), John-Jules, Lavery (Yates, 78)
- Subs: Moore, Husband, Anderson, Bowler, Ekpiteta, Holmes, Yates
68’ Neil gets away with one
Neil has been excellent again tonight but got away with one there after hesitating on the ball.
Carey won possession for Blackpool inside the Sunderland half but Alves blocked his effort.
GOAL!!! O’BRIEN AGAIN!
“Shall we sing a song for you?’ chant the travelling Sunderland fans.
The visitors are back ahead after Pritchard’s corner found O’Brien in space inside the area and the forward’s deflected effort beat Grimshaw.
2-1 Sunderland!
55’ Carey fires over again
Blackpool are getting into the better attacking positions at the moment but aren’t making them count.
Carey fires over again from the edge of the box.
48’ Blackpool looking bright again
Some more chances for the hosts at the start of the second half.
First, James broke forward from midfield into the box but directed his shot just wide.
Moments later, Antwi tried his luck from the edge of the box but his effort went high into the stands.
That was a very good chance for O’Brien after Wright’s pass over the Blackpool defence picked out the forward who scuffed his effort wide with a defender just behind him.
At the other end, James broke forward into the box but his low cross was blocked by Wright. Carey met the loose ball but Wright blocked again as the ball went out for a corner.
